mudlarking thames tours 2023

MUDLARKING TOURS

If you had a Ferrari you would'nt take it to a back street local garage to be serviced would you..............you'd take it straight to Ferrari.............the Best !!!

You want to go on a one to one Mudlarking Tour & be taught how to Mudlark correctly..............you use the same principle above................so you go straight to Ferrari again..............nope thats wrong...........you come to me Steve the "Mud-God" Brooker the T.V Mudlark.........a kinda Mud Main dealer of the Thames and a real registered mudlark, fully registered Thames tour guide, Speaker & hands on history teacher trainer for councils all over the country.

You maybe just want a tour, maybe a new hobby, a birthday gift for a friend, anniversary prezzie for the wife, Christmas gift, works doo or you just ran over next doors cat so you wanna treat your neighbour to an outing with me as his now suicidal after Smokeys death.

Brush up on your Mudlarking skills if you already have a permit & lark already.................i still see so many people doing things that with a slight tweak can give you 10 fold better chances on your finds ratio's................if you're not finding give me a shout and lets see what your doing wrong and open up those elusive finding lines for you...................its easy when you know how and all one to one..............just you and your eyes.

I won't bore you to death on here but will send you all the info and gumph you'll ever need plus rules and regs for the Thames as you cannot search the Thames foreshore at all without a permit these days............it is now totally illegal to search the Thames foreshore without being licensed and a fee must be paid to the PLA just for you to walk onto the foreshore..............this too is in all the info that will be sent to you.

CONTACT THE MUD-GOD ON             [email protected]

'I always wanted to try mudlarking so contacted Steve "Mud God" Brooker from the history channels Mud Men and other television programs associated with the river Thames and registered mudlark & tour guide.

My friend from another department in the museum had gone on one of his one to one teaching trips on the foreshore and raved about it for days.

From the minute we met to five hours later steve talked non-stop about the history of the Thames, amazing stories, funny anecdotes and so so much more.

My friend had told me you could sit in the pub with this guy for ages and listen to his stories from the Thames and that he was exactly the same as he is on television.

He was right as i have never laughed so much or been so intrigued by wonderful tales and as my work partner said he feels like your best mate for those five hours.

This dynamic, surprise-a-minute, extremely atmospheric training session 

has certainly saved me so much time in acquiring the expert skills

and the eye searching techniques of a mudlarker on an ancient shore of the Thames. 

Steve Brooker or the Mud God's vivid lore about the Thames and its long history

poured into my ears, all while he jumped from spot to spot. 

Whilst walking the mud we looked at shifting stone/pebble finding lines, metal lines and then he showed me how  to look 

and where to look for fascinating finds just being sorted in size and weight by boat wave erosion.

Crucially, he taught me all the roles played by river currents, muds, 

sands and stones, and the pull and drag of waves and ships' wakes 

and the wind. But most important, he taught me how to discover, to

calculate and recognise "finding-lines" - that is, the lines along which the 

Thames waves sort and shift its treasures. 

We gazed through Henry VIII's palace rubbish dump and spotted Tudor nails notched and nicked with makers marks, black Tudor leather (still perfectly 

preserved) Tudor dress pins from a time when women wore 700 

pins a day in their clothes & hair and royalty wore thousands. Steve's stabbing eye spotted so many curios of

all ages, while his fingers scoured them with Thames grit to bring up their 

brightness.  

He identified everything - from WW2 Army helmet buckles

to a small medieval pilgrim's bell, from bullets to Victorian fly-buttons -

from pottery fragments of an Elizabethan Witch Pot (in one case, with 

the shield or escutcheon showing), from farthing to a Naafi spoon to an 18th century

button with a flower on it, from Elizabethan clay pipes to an exquisitely 

worked key-tag carrying a request to return the set to the Glasgow police.

As we walked along, he told me all about the buildings that had edged the 

shore - was it a wonder that, underneath where a Victorian school had stood, 

we found green marble-shaped glass stoppers from pop bottles lobbed in by 

the boys?  

Not only could he identify everything immediately, right across the

ages of time, but he could also give the full, deep background to that item -

draw a picture of it in its historical context. Like the ancient, dumped French 

100-frank coins clipped by the authorities to stop British dockers from reusing 

them in France.  He knew the makers of the sea-worn Victorian bricks and the years 

they'd been in business, and the history of shell-cases and munitions.

Modern stories of finds of colourful Indian religious offerings to the river (which often contain money) and also, finding voodoo offerings also chilled my spine. What with the lovely shore location, and the time travel from find to find, this long training session was the mother of all mudlarkings - no wonder Steve is nicknamed the Mud God. Highly recommended and i should know as i work in the museum and have sat through hundreds of lectures & talks and this was spectacular, entertaining, informative & very funny'.

Philippa M.

Mudlarking Weekend with Hands on History

To celebrate Totally Thames 2023, Royal Museums Greenwich is partnering with Hands on History for displays, talks and tours celebrating mudlarking

Important information for visitors

Until summer 2025, there is a new visitor route at the National Maritime Museum while we carry out  essential improvements to the Museum's roof . Most galleries will still be open as normal, and  special exhibitions  are currently free for all visitors. However, the Great Map and AHOY! will be closed for the duration of the works.  Find out more .

Essential Information

Mudlarking is the practice of searching for historical objects and artefacts in the river Thames.

These lost, forgotten and discarded objects offer a window into London’s rich history, and the muddy banks of the Thames foreshore are a treasure chest of invaluable finds.

Discover the ancestral Thames with Hands on History, a pop-up mudlarking festival held at the National Maritime Museum on 23 and 24 September.

London's mudlarks will display their favourite finds and private collections.

Discover the secrets of London's maritime past, experience Tudor artefacts recovered in front of Greenwich’s former Palace of Placentia , and share the thrill of finding a piece of history buried in the banks of the Thames.

A live programme of activity for all ages will animate the weekend, including a Storylark - your mudlarking museum tour guide, as well as a sculpture workshop, life drawing and creative discussions. For those interested in art history, a printed trail is available for visitors wishing to understand London’s maritime past through art.

A full programme of the weekend is below. All talks, workshops and tours are free but must be booked in advance on the Totally Thames Festival website .

The programme

Saturday 23 september.

Display of mudlarked objects on the Great Map

Mudlark Cinema

10 - 3pm  | Lecture Theatre

A series of short films celebrating mudlarks, their finds and the ancestral Thames will play on rotation throughout the day.

Drop in table top workshops

Drop in | Great Map

‘Intention Boats’ with Remiiya Badru, artist and River Rambler. Pottery Sorting with Christine Webb.

Still life drawing workshop with Coral Pearce

11 am – 1 pm | Learning Space

In this two-hour class, mudlark Coral Pearce will help you develop your drawing skills, using real mudlarked objects as your inspiration.

2 - 3 pm | Start Point:  Great Map

Join Rich Sylvester, Germander Speedwell and Remiiya Badru for a performative story walk connecting the objects displayed throughout the Museum on a walk beginning on the Great Map and ending in the Queen’s House.

Please sign up at the National Maritime Museum Parkside entrance ticket desk.

Artist talk: Foreshore Foundlings by Billie Bond

3.30 – 4.30 pm

Sculpture artist Billie Bond will discuss how her work as a contemporary crafter responds directly to the makers that came before, mediated through mudlarked finds.

Sunday 24th September

Display of mudlarked objects on the Great Map.

A series of short films celebrating mudlarks, their finds and the ancestral Thames will play on rotation throughout the day

‘Intention Boats’ with Remiiya Badru, artist and River Rambler.  Pottery Sorting with Christine Webb

11 - 12, and 2 - 3 pm | Start Point: Great Map

Join Rich Sylvester, Germander Speedwell and Remiiya Badru for a performative story walk connecting the objects displayed throughout the museum on a walk beginning on the Great Map and ending in the Queen’s House.

11 am - 1 pm | Learning Space

Get a hands-on insight into the making processes behind mudlarked finds with this sculpture workshop where you will create your own piece inspired by historic objects.

Panel discussion: Shipbuilding, Breaking and Maritime Greenwich

3.30 – 4.30 pm | Lecture Theatre

In this panel discussion, archaeologists from the Thames Discovery Programme share the personal stories that can be discovered within the objects, and places associated with London’s shipbuilding and shipbreaking industries, and share creative response to archaeological finds.

Book your free spaces now

Totally Thames Festival

This exhibition and talk is part of the Totally Thames Festival, an annual celebration taking place on, beneath and along the River Thames. Mudlarking walks and talks also feature during the festival. Check out all additional events, such as the StoryWalk and the Thames Discovery Programme foreshore walks, on the Totally Thames Festival website.

Visit the website

Visit the National Maritime Museum

More events at the National Maritime Museum.

Saturday Art Club

Women of the RNLI

Character Encounters

Astronomy Photographer of the Year

Safe Harbour

Ocean Blue: Cyanotype workshop

Play Tuesdays

Members' Treasures Tours

SENsory Sailors

LGBTQ+ Family Network

Caribbean Takeover

Indigo dyeing workshop with Abiola Onabulé

Bsl tour: women of the rnli.

Youth Collective

World Oceans Day

Refugee Week 2024

Windrush Day

International Slavery Remembrance Day

Book tickets via the totally thames festival website.

National Maritime Museum

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• Special exhibitions free in 2024

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• Contact & Book

Private Foreshore Tours

​private tours of the thames foreshore, commissioned exploring.

Thames Explorer has been hosting foreshore exploration since 1981 and our experienced guides provide the best way to discover the secrets of London’s previous inhabitants. Join us to get a unique perspective of the capital.

Follow in the Footsteps of Mudlarks

Book one of our knowledgeable staff for you or your private group (maximum group size 25) for 2 hours. Private explorations can be tailored to your needs and take place all year round on the day of your choice (staff and tide allowing). People book for many reasons including birthdays (both children and adults), special occasions, corporate groups, team-building or simply out of curiosity. We see a wide range of ages from 5 to 80 and beyond, from the USA to Japan.

Happy exploring!

Please email us on [email protected] or call 020 8742 0057.

Essential information

Meeting place.

Please read your booking confirmation or consult the person organising your group. Private exploration can take place at either the Millennium Bridge, Southwark, Greenwich, Rotherhithe, Limehouse and Wapping.

Booking information

Advice will be given at the time of booking. As a guide private tours are limited to 25 people. Children must be over 8 years and must be accompanied by an adult (for small family groups we may be able to take children over 5 years please speak to us to discuss). No more than 3 children to one adult. 

Paying for tickets

Tickets are paid for using PayPal however you do not need a PayPal account . Just click on the PayPal logo under “Purchase Tickets” and you have the option to pay with a debit or credit card.

Artefact policy

The experience of finding artefacts on the foreshore is both memorable and unique. In order to preserve this as long as possible for as many people as possible Thames Explorer requests you take only memories and photographs away and not artefacts. Please bring your camera or smartphone to take photographs, a ruler and notebook is also handy. Thames Explorer Trust does not recommend accessing the foreshore without an experienced guide. Access to the foreshore requires a permit from the Port of London Authority (PLA) – Thames Explorer takes groups by agreement with the PLA. Any form of digging or scraping is forbidden, there are however, a great many surface artefacts to discover.

Event updates

Occasionally our events have to be cancelled – problems with the foreshore, weather etc. If we know an event is going to be cancelled we will email you at your booking email address as soon as possible, however if our staff think it is unsafe to continue at the time of the event – you will be issued a full refund. Please respect their experience.

Except in emergencies our staff will be at the meeting point to greet you, however in the unlikely event that they are not only unable to be there and also unable to communicate their absence to us (and therefore us to you) we ask that you call our office – 020 8742 0057. If a member of the office team is not available, please wait at the meeting point for 40 minutes but no longer. If you are sure you are in the right location and that no member of our staff has turned up, you should contact Thames Explorer by email ([email protected]) and you will be issued with a full refund.

In the extremely unlikely event that a member of staff is unable to attend a session and unable to communicate this to us please wait at the venue for 35 minutes. A full refund will be issued in this case.

We go out in all weathers with the exception of: snow and severe ice, lightning, very high winds and dense fog. Please keep any eye on your booking email address in the rare case of cancellation. If our staff think it is unsafe to continue at the time of the event – you will be issued a full refund. Please respect their experience. In the event of sudden, high rainfall making the foreshore inaccessible we will notify you with as much time as possible, full refunds will be offered.

Practical information

Please bring wellies, walking boots, old trainers or shoes which you don’t mind getting muddy (no crocs or open toed sandals!) Be prepared for rain or shine and possible mud. Waterborne diseases can be a risk therefore it is important that those with open cuts or eczema have them covered and that all participants keep their hands away from their faces and refrain from eating or drinking on the foreshore – children should be closely supervised.  You should wash your hands thoroughly afterwards and especially before eating and drinking! If you prefer to wear rubber gloves then please bring these with you.

The Thames Explorer Trust is a huge fan of dogs (and cats) however as some people are not, we ask that you not to bring your dog with you.

We have several sites for foreshore exploration. Please check the location for your event before setting off. Please also check the time of your event particularly if you have attended one before. Low water times vary as much as one hour per day and by ten hours per week.

Please note the foreshore steps can be quite steep and people with mobility problems should call us first for more information. Please read any guidance notes about your site carefully.

Please dress appropriately for the season. Be aware that the foreshore is very exposed and can be subject to much colder or hotter conditions than the rest of the city.

Activities take place on riverside paths and the foreshore. Access to the foreshore (draw docks or steps) may be slippery and steep, the foreshore can also be muddy and uneven. Please listen to the advice and follow instructions given by our staff.

You are responsible for your own safety and those of your children at all times.

Health and safety guidelines for visitors to the foreshore

We do everything we can to keep our visitors safe and we have a very low accident record over many years.  The Trust has public liability insurance, a child protection policy and we comply with Health and Safety Executive regulations. We follow ‘good practice’ for operating procedures and staff training.  All staff have enhanced DBS checks. Our staff are not allowed to administer first aid.

Covid update

We adhere to current Covid guidelines issued by the government – please read the most recent Covid guidelines before embarking, particularly advice about social distancing, mask and glove wearing. This is an outdoor event where clear communication is essential for safety. For this reason our staff may not be wearing a face covering. Please bring hand-sanitizer as there may be no local hand-washing facilities – wash your hands with soap and water at the first available opportunity.

Leptospirosis (Weil’s Disease)

This is a bacterial infection transmitted through contact with animal urine and contaminated water.  There is a small possibility of contracting this disease when in contact with river water. In most cases the disease is only mild but in serious cases it can be life-threatening and symptoms should not be ignored.  Early symptoms are flu-like and include headaches, chills, high temperature, vomiting and muscle pains.  If you experience any flu-like symptoms within 3 weeks of visiting the river foreshore inform your doctor, referencing river water and Weil’s Disease. Tests are available and early treatment can limit the severity of the infection.

Cancellation policy

Please note that tickets bought within 2 weeks of an event are non-refundable unless the following criteria apply:

In the event that you are unable to attend due to suspected coronavirus, or if you have been told to isolate: It is important to let us know at the earliest opportunity so that we may re-advertise your ticket and you will be issued a refund. Please note that we can only issue refunds if you let us know before the event, not after.

In the event that Thames Explorer is unable to host the event due to suspected coronavirus or because our staff have been told to isolate: We have arranged cover from a second member of staff for as many of our events as possible, however in the event that both your guide and the cover guide is unable to attend, we will let you know at the first available opportunity by email and you will be issued a refund.

Except in emergencies our staff will be at the meeting point to greet you, however in the unlikely event that they are not there within 15 minutes of the start time please first check that you are in the right place and then call our office – 020 8742 0057. If a member of the office team is not available, please wait at the meeting point for 40 minutes but no longer. If you are sure you were in the right location and that no member of our staff turned up, you should email Thames Explorer ([email protected]) and you will be issued with a full refund.

In the event the government alters its guidance on outdoor events which prevents us from hosting the event: we will inform you by email at the earliest opportunity and you will be offered a credit note for a future event or issued a refund.

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Archaeology

• Early Modern

Mudlarking requires a permit from the Port of London Authority (PLA), and permit-holders must follow rules on exactly where and how they search. They are prohibited from selling finds for personal gain. The issuing of permits was paused in November 2022 after a rush of applicants, fuelled partly by popular books on mudlarking and social media posts. For now, the PLA says people who don’t already hold permits can visit the foreshore but cannot search it “in any way for any reason”. However, it is still possible to search without a permit by doing an approved guided tour (details below) and leaving any finds on the foreshore.

What motivates mudlarks?

Nicola White, an artist and mudlark who runs the Tideline Art YouTube channel , says: “I grew up in Cornwall and always used to like collecting things, whether it was on the beach or in the garden. Then, when I moved to London — close to Greenwich — in about 1998, I found myself down on the foreshore. It was a bit like a replacement beach because I really missed the beaches in Cornwall. I started to pick up bits of pottery and glass. Then I found a coin and I suddenly realised that there was this history to be to be found down there, and so I became fascinated with it.

“The coin wasn’t terribly old — it was a George V, I think — and I held it and I thought the last person who held it lived 100 years or so ago, and it really inspired me and got my imagination going. So I became a lot more interested in history. Because everything I find, to this day, I’m really motivated to learn about. Beforehand, I wasn’t particularly mad about history.”

It is personal, tangible connections to the past that grab her. For instance, most of us have heard of Pudding Lane as the street where the Great Fire of London started in Thomas Farriner’s bakery in 1666. A few years ago, White found a trader’s token issued in 1657 by Brian Appleby who owned a tavern on that very street. As she tweeted at the time: “Farriner’s bakery was close to Appleby’s Maydenheade & it thrills me to think that this token was once held by someone who probably knew Farriner.”

Simon Clarke, director of the Thames Explorer Trust, which organises guided mudlarking tours, says: “When you go to a museum, the objects are behind glass and have been found for you. Here, you find them yourself and you never know what you will find. It’s the very fact that you are discovering something that has been unearthed for the first time. Because Thames Clippers and some of the larger [river] vessels do the scouring for us — they overturn new things every day. It’s not only finding objects but the thrill of working out where they’re from.”

What can mudlarks find?

The anaerobic condition of the Thames mud means that items lost or dumped in the river hundreds or thousands of years ago can emerge, through erosion, in pristine condition. The variety of finds is extraordinary and reflects London’s far-reaching trading connections. Among frequent finds are clay pipes or fragments of them — some dating to the lifetime of Sir Walter Raleigh who popularised Virginia tobacco in the 16th century. Sherds of Roman pottery and chunks of Roman roof tile are also common in places, the latter occasionally marked with the paw prints of cats or dogs that walked on the wet clay. Meanwhile, depending on the details, blue and white sherds might be relatively recent Willow Pattern, Delftware or export porcelain hand-painted in China 300 years ago.

Pieces such as Roman coins, medieval pilgrim badges brought back from shrines, and mourning rings inscribed with names and dates are rarer and coveted. Although some mudlarks target such finds using metal detectors, many succeed in finding small metal objects eyes-only. White says: “For me, mudlarking is an experience of searching and being in the moment and wandering along, looking. If you’ve got a detector, there’s so much metal down there, it’s beeping all over the place. You really have to know what you’re doing.”

She adds that people should have realistic expectations. “A problem is that there are so many social media posts that you might get the impression that you can just wander down and it’s a smorgasbord of finds — and it’s really not like that. It’s important to still see the magic in a few pipe stems, a bit of pottery, and oyster shells, because those are the things that tell the story of London. Even a pipe stem could have been from a pipe smoked by somebody 400 years ago.”

What stories can finds tell?

White is one of a number of mudlarks who use social media to share the backstories of their standout finds after researching them. One of the most evocative is a pewter tavern mug that she found in thick mud. “I pulled it out and it was beautiful,” she recalls. “I saw some lettering through this film of mud. It’s engraved with the name of James Burrows, of the Rose & Crown on Lower Thames Street. He was landlord of the Rose & Crown, near Custom House in the City of London, from 1830 to 1850.

“I use the newspaper archives a lot, so I looked him up and came across a story of when he was a witness at the inquest of somebody who used to drink at his tavern. It was a man who, sadly, drowned himself at Custom House. So I took the tankard down to the foreshore in front of Custom House and made a toast to this man who died by suicide and to James Burrows.

“It’s magical really — these objects tell people’s stories.”

Remarkably, named connections can go back much, much further. As White explains: “I recently found the base of a Roman Samian ware bowl, with the potter’s stamp on the bottom. It was mind-blowing to think about this person, this potter, almost 2,000 years ago, and here’s his name [Borillus] still clear as day and I could look him up and find out where he was making his pots, at Lezoux in Gaul.”

In another case, she found an object marked with the name of a British warship. She says: “I found a beautiful log slate, or slate log, which would have been on a ship. It’s a piece of slate that’s engraved with the name of HMS Merlin . And it’s got all the columns for wind speed and courses. I’ve been told it would have been on the deck of the ship and they would have written on it in chalk. Then, in the evening, they would have transcribed it into the paper log and then wiped the slate clean, which is where the saying comes from. So it was incredible to find this and the museum think it probably dates from around 1760 or 1770.”

This suggests that the log belonged to the British sixteen-gun sloop Merlin , which was commissioned in 1757, was involved in the British capture of Havana in 1762, and scuttled in 1777 after it ran aground in the Delaware River during the American Revolutionary War. The ship was repaired and refitted at Woolwich Dockyard in 1765 and 1766, so the log slate may have been lost around this time.

When do mudlarks lark?

Mudlarking is only possible at low tide. White says: “It all revolves around the tides. I have a tide app on my phone and my computer. If it was low tide now, I wouldn’t be sitting here. So I run my life a little bit around that. You get low low tides, and some of them are a bit higher, depending on the cycle of the tides. I try to go a few times a week, and if it’s really good, and if it’s summertime and there are good low tides, you can sometimes go twice a day. I usually go a couple of hours before low tide, to chase the tide out. You have a nice long time then, and afterwards I probably stay for one or two hours while it’s coming back in. I tend to go to lots of different places, but I’ve got several favourite places and I sort of rotate them.

“The objects you find do reflect the activities that went on where you’re searching. In Central London, you’re going to find much older things — Roman, Tudor, medieval. Then in other places, where was a lot of [later] shipbuilding, you’re going to find different types of objects. So yes, I enjoy that mix.”

Nighttime isn’t an obstacle, but rather an opportunity for seasoned mudlarks. White says: “I do go nightlarking. And it’s surprising, you can find a lot because you’re focusing on a small area with a torch and it’s very effective. You’d be surprised what you can find.”

Is there a knack to success?

It mostly comes down to persistence and experience. White says: “Some people write to me and say, ‘I’d like to find a clay pipe — can you advise me on a place to go?’ And I say, ‘I’m sorry, I can’t. But what I will say is that you just need to go and explore and that’s how you’re going to find an object. There’s no easy way.’ Some people think they’re just going to get a fast solution and not have to put in the work. Some of us have been looking for years to find the places which really work for us.”

She adds: “With practice, you begin to see things and recognise objects. I like to think I’ve got my eye in quite well. The tide tends to sort things out in layers, like bones and metal and bits of coal. Also, you get to know where there’s a bit of exposed mud where things may get caught as the tide is going out. So you do get to know the foreshore, but it changes — you can get to know a place and then it can change completely in a couple of months.”

Tell me about guided tours

The Thames Explorer Trust’s regular tours provide a legitimate way for those without permits to search the foreshore. Participants can find and handle artefacts and have them identified by expert staff. They are asked to take away only memories and photographs, however.

The tours cost £25 each for adults and children aged eight-plus, for two hours on the foreshore with an archaeology guide. The proceeds go towards supporting the trust’s work with schools. The tours have soared in popularity in recent years. Simon Clarke, the director, says: “When I started here, a decade ago, we ran about six walks a year, with another two or three cancelled because there weren’t enough people. The tours that went ahead were half-full. Now we’re running about 160 a year and most are oversubscribed.” 

As for the format, he says: “We start off with a general talk about what happened in the area. Then we show some artefacts from a small collection our staff have and pass them around. Then we give a small health and safety talk and it’s onto the foreshore to have an eyes-only search.

“People tend to branch off in their pairs or small groups. But it’s one of those things where you really have to be silent and look very, very hard. In terms of the spread of things, on some parts of the foreshore, you can put your foot down across 1,500 years’ worth of history. Within a few inches, you might find late medieval, Tudor and Industrial.”

Where can I learn more?

There are various mudlarking-related events this month as part of the Totally Thames Festival , including exhibitions of finds at St Paul’s Cathedral on September 16 and 17, the National Maritime Museum on September 23 and 24, and the Museum of London, Docklands, on September 30 and October 1. The Thames Discovery Programme is organising guided foreshore walks with archaeologists for the festival and also runs walks and events year-round.

Acclaimed books include Mudlarking: Lost and Found on the River Thames by Lara Maiklem and Mudlarks: Treasures from the Thames by Jason Sandy. Many mudlarks, including Nicola White, post videos on YouTube and photographs and videos on Instagram. In addition, there are active mudlarking groups on Facebook.

Visits to museums such as the Museum of London, Docklands, the British Museum and the V&A can provide historical context and opportunities to see complete examples of artefacts such as ceramic vessels often found in fragments on the foreshore.

Find reporting, and hazards

Mudlarks must report all finds that might be of archaeological or historical interest to the Portable Antiquities Scheme so that archaeologists, museum curators and historians have the opportunity to learn from individual objects and wider patterns. They must also report finds that qualify as treasure to the coroner.

The foreshore is a hazardous environment and people are periodically caught out by rising tides. Anyone visiting the foreshore should use tide tables or apps and stay within easy range of steps or other exit routes. There are trip and slip hazards and sharp objects such as broken glass and needles. There is also the risk of Weil’s disease spread by rat urine in water. Mudlarks are advised to keep any cuts and abrasions covered, to avoid touching their eyes, mouth or nose, to consider wearing rubber gloves and to wash their hands thoroughly after searching.

Artwork at top of article by Claire Carponen Illustration .

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News and features on history and archaeology from Mark Bridge, an award-winning journalist who worked at The Times for 15 years. You can get in touch via [email protected] and read our Privacy Policy here.

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Mudlarking at Henfield Hall

Saturday 11th may, 11am - 4:30pm for one day only london's top mudlarks display their collections of amazing treasures reflecting the history of the river thames.  meet the mudlarks and view their incredible river-found artefacts that tell the story of london. .

Mudlarking Exhibition in Emery Walker's House

March 2 - May 30 

Mudlarking: Unearthing London's Past.

The highlight of the exhibit is a complete alphabet of Doves Type from The Doves Press, a private printing press joint-founded by Emery Walker and T.J. Cobden-Sanderson in the first decade of the 20th century.

This marks the first time a full set of Doves Type has ever been exhibited, as until recently, the pieces lay at the bottom of the River Thames, following a spectacular falling out between the Press’s founders. The loss and recovery of the Doves Type will not be the only star of the exhibition, as a tremendous range of mudlarked finds spanning London's history will also be on display. Highlights to include fossils, prehistoric flint tools, Roman coins and pottery, Medieval pilgrim badges, Tudor fashion accessories, 17th century children's toys, Georgian personal adornments and Victorian curiosities.

An exciting programme of events will accompany this exhibition, including talks, walking tours, guided mudlarking experiences, scavenger hunt and additional House open days.

What we do...

Hands on History tells stories of the past, present and future through found artefacts from the River Thames. 

The project is co-curated and organised by mudlarks Jason Sandy, Monika Buttling-Smith and Marie-Louise Plum.

As well as an annual programme of events for Totally Thames, Hands on History facilitates one-off talks, exhibitions and interactive events. 

We partner frequently with like-minded organisations, such as London's historic livery companies and national museums to deliver exciting, engaging and inclusive programmes to people from all walks of life.

Please see the link below to see the kind of thing we like to get up to!

Hands on History - videos, pics and more in our multimedia gallery.

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A month of Mudlarking

By Jason Sandy

As part of the Totally Thames Festival 2023, there are a wide variety of mudlarking events planned  throughout the month of September. You can enjoy an exhilarating adventure through London and visit iconic venues where thousands of historic artifacts from the Thames will be on display.

Mudlarking exhibition in the ancient Roman amphitheater (Jason Sandy).

The journey begins in Roman Londinium as you descend underground into an ancient amphitheater that is over 1,800 years old. Walk in the footsteps of the gladiators as you see Roman artifacts on display within the arena on September 2nd and 3rd.

Display of mudlarking finds in St. Paul’s Cathedral (Jason Sandy).

Experience the grandeur of architect Sir Christopher Wren’s most famous building, the iconic St. Paul’s Cathedral, which was built on the site of the former Norman cathedral that burned down during the Great Fire of London in 1666. On September 16th and 17th, mudlarks will be displaying artifacts relating to Medieval London and the Great Fire. In addition, Kirsti Scott will be displaying beachcombing finds from around the world and mudlarking articles from the magazine at the Beachcombing table in the cathedral. Learn more ›

Sculptures of mudlarking finds by artist Billie Bond (Billie Bond).

Sail down the river on a Thames Clipper boat and get off in historic Greenwich where two mudlarking events await you. On September 23rd and 24th, mudlarks will be exhibiting their collections under the expansive, glass roof of the National Maritime Museum. In the neighboring Queen’s House, more than 20 artists and sculptors will be displaying their Thames-inspired artwork throughout the historic building.

Jayden Sandy showing his collection to visitors (Jason Sandy).

The adventure continues as you cross the river and head to the Museum of London Docklands. For the first time ever, the museum is hosting a series of events as part of their “Mudlarking Showcase” on September 30th and October 1st. Within the old Georgian warehouse that was once used to store goods from around the world, thousands of Thames-found artifacts will be on display. The objects reveal unique stories about the people who once lived and worked in London’s Docklands. You will also have the chance to explore the museum by following a family-friendly “Mudlarking Trail.” Throughout the day, artists and sculptors will be conducting arts and crafts workshops for kids and young adults in the main entrance foyer.

Display of Kristina Kapciukaite‘s collection (Jason Sandy).

In addition to the mudlarking exhibitions, there will be a series of informative and educational panel discussions and talks by mudlarks, artists and historians. Guided tours along the Thames foreshore will be led by the Thames Discovery Programme, Thames Explorer Trust, and veteran mudlark, Steve Brooker, from the TV show Mud Men. Entry to the mudlarking exhibitions is free and open to the public. The talks and walks are ticketed events.

Mudlarking on the Thames Foreshore requires a permit.  Learn about rules   for mudlarking in London ›

For more information about these fun mudlarking events for the whole family, visit thamesfestivaltrust.org/whats-on/ .

Learn more about mudlarking

Learn more about the experiences of mudlarks, who search the shores of rivers, bays, and seas for historical finds and   other objects .   Articles ›

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Beachcombing Volume 42: May/June 2024

Beachcombing Back Issues and Seconds

Sea Glass Note Pad

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The poster is just what I wanted. Vivid colors also.

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The articles are very informative and easy to read.

Mudlarking on the Thames River in London (the Ultimate Guide)

Posted on Last updated: March 4, 2024

Mudlarking is the practice of combing a riverbed at low tide looking for lost treasures, or items of historical significance. Mudlarking on the Thames has a long history, dating back to Victorian times, when people would scavenge the riverbed looking for valuable items they could sell.

Today, mudlarking is a hobby rather than an occupation, with participants looking for items of archeological, rather than monetary value. Some mudlarks even take metal detectors down to the riverbanks to help them in their search.

This post contains everything you need to know to go mudlarking on the Thames, including information about permits, and how to join a mudlarking tour or group in London.

Mudlarking on the Thames

Can you go mudlarking without a permit, can you keep what you find mudlarking, mudlarking tours in london, advice before you go mudlarking on the thames, books about mudlarking on the thames.

Since November 2016, the Port of London Authority (PLA) have ruled that you are not permitted to search the tidal Thames foreshore in any way without a permit . This includes any kind of beachcombing, scraping and digging, or using a metal detector.

If you are considering mudlarking on the Thames, you should be aware:

• A permit is required even if you don’t touch or take anything from the Thames riverbed.
• A permit is required even if you are only looking, and not scraping or digging.
• The PLA, as landowners, legally own everything that is found on the Thames foreshore.

Why do you Need a Permit for Mudlarking?

There are a number of reasons by permits are required for mudlarking.

Firstly, people who are casually searching the Thames foreshore may fail to report significant finds. By regulating mudlarking with permits, it help to protects the historical integrity of the riverbed, and makes it more likely that people will respect the archeological significance of items they find.

Secondly, by requiring a permit it protects the wildlife that live near the river as it reduces the number of people walking on the Thames foreshore. If too many people are walking on the riverbed at low tide it may disturb birds and animals that are nesting or feeding by the river.

Thirdly, walking on the foreshore of the Thames is dangerous. Permit holders are warned of the hazards of going down to the river bank, and advised to go in groups.

If you aren’t careful, the tide could rise quickly and cut off your exit. There are also slippery rocks, broken glass and nails on the riverbed, as well as the danger of catching Weil’s Disease , a form of leptospirosis contracted from the urine of rats.

How much is a Thames Mudlarking Licence?

There are two type of licence that will allow you to mudlark on the Thames: a standard permit and a mudlark permit.

Standard Permit

A standard permit allows you to dig to a depth of 7.5cm (3inches), but no tools other than hand tools can be used. The fees for a standard permit are as follows:

• Adult  £96
• Junior (15-17yrs)  £63 (must be accompanied by a permit holding adult)
• Junior (12-14yrs)  £36 (must be accompanied by a permit holding adult)

Permits last for 3 years. Monthly permits are £42.

When you apply for a standard permit you need to upload a passport style photograph, and allow a minimum of 4 weeks for processing.

Please note : You cannot apply for a permit for children under the age of 12. If you want to go mudlarking with a child aged between 8-12 years, the PLA recommends you book a tour through the Thames Explorer Trust.

Mudlark Permit

A mudlark permits allows you to dig to a depth of 1.2m (3 feet 11 inches), but no tools other than hand tools can be used. It also gives you access to additional areas that a standard permit doesn’t cover.

Mudlark permits are only available to current members of the Society of Thames Mudlarks. To obtain one you must have held a standard permit for at least two years. You must also be able to demonstrate a history of showing your finds to the Museum of London , or reporting them via the UK Portable Antiquities Scheme .

Can Anyone go Mudlarking on the Thames?

Anyone with a permit is allowed legally to go mudlarking on the Thames. It is not recommended however, that anyone goes onto the Thames foreshore unless they have a good understanding of the tides, and local conditions.

The Thames is very dangerous all year round. The water can be freezing cold, and there are often very strong undercurrents. Tides have a reputation for being unpredictable, and anyone who doesn’t have a good awareness could get trapped if their exits are suddenly blocked off.

If you are new to mudlarking it is recommended you start by going on a guided tour or with a group. It is also wise to start familiarising yourself with the Thames tides .

You can keep what you find when you are mudlarking unless the object is believed to be treasure, or an item of archeological or historical interest.

Items of Historical Interest

If the object is believed to be of historical interest, it must be reported to Portable Antiquities Scheme Finds Liaison Officer at the Museum of London, within one month of being found.

You can do that either by email or phone . The museum then returns objects to their finder, with a copy of the PAS record.

Please note : If you are visiting from another country you will require an export license to take archaeological items that are over 50 years old, out of the UK.

If the object is believed to be treasure, it must be reported to the coroner for the district in which it was found, within 14 days. This is according to The Treasure Act 1996 , and includes any gold and silver objects, or groups of coins over 300 years old.

Useful Links

• Advice for Finders of Archaeological Objects including Treasure
• Code of Practice for Responsible Metal Detecting
• The Treasure Act

Where are the Best Places to go Mudlarking on the Thames?

If you have a standard permit, there are only certain spots on the Thames where you can go mudlarking. There is an interactive map which shows where digging is allowed.

Some good places to go mudlarking in London include:

• Millennium Bridge on the north side of the river
• Rotherhithe

Check out my list of Thames foreshore access points to help you find the best place to go mudlarking.

If you are new to mudlarking, a tour is a great way to get started.

The Thames Explorer Trust offers guided tours along the Thames foreshore covering Greenwich, Wapping, Rotherhithe, and the area around the Millennium Bridge. You don’t need a permit to join, and the experienced staff will help you find and identify items of archaeological interest.

The Thames Discovery Programme also sometimes organise foreshore walks , focusing on the history and heritage of the river Thames.

Related : My Mudlarking Experience with the Thames Explorer Trust

Mudlarking Groups in London

If you want to start mudlarking as a hobby, you may wish to join some mudlarking groups in London, and follow some well known mudlarkers on social media.

Good London mudlarking groups include:

• London Mudlark Foreshore Meet Up Group
• The River Thames Mudlarking Finds
• Thames Mudlarking Treasures
• Mudlarking Meetups on the Thames

Popular mudlarking instagram accounts to follow:

• Lara Maiklem
• Florrie Evans
• Nick Stevens
• Mudhistorian
• Steve Brooker
• Alan Murphy

There are also some good videos on the Old Father Thames Youtube channel .

Mudlarking in the Victorian Era

The term “mudlarking” was originally used in the 19th century, and late 18th century. It described the activity of poor people in London who would scour the foreshore of the river Thames at low tide looking for items they could sell.

Mudlarks were usually children or elderly people living in poverty, who had no other choice for employment. Mudlarking was a dangerous occupation back then, since the River Thames contained raw sewage, broken glass, and the dead bodies of humans and animals.

Can you go Mudlarking Outside of London?

London is the best place in the UK to go mudlarking. This is because, at low tide the foreshore is mostly gravel, and easy to walk on. Also, the mud at the bottom of the Thames is anaerobic, so it preserves objects well. You are also more likely to discover something in London, than in other rivers in the UK.

If you try to go mudlarking in rivers outside of London, the riverbeds might be more difficult to walk on. For example, the riverbeds in Newcastle, Bristol and Cardiff are just dense mud which you could sink into and drown.

There are also far less options to attend groups and guided tours outside of London. In London, new mudlarkers can join groups where experts understand the tides and currents, and will be able to keep them safe.

Before going mudlarking you should consider the following:

• The Thames is a tidal river. Make sure you check the tide times to see if the tide is rising or falling.
• Do not go on your own, and take a mobile phone with you incase you get into trouble.
• Watch the tide and make sure that your exit points are close by so you can get off the foreshore quickly if necessary.
• The Thames foreshore contains slippery stones, and sharp objects. Make sure you wear good shoes to protect your feet, and prevent you from slipping.
• Wear plastic gloves if you are going to be picking objects up. The exposed riverbed can contain sewage, and there’s also the risk of Weil’s Disease.

I hope you love the books I recommend! Just so you know, these are affiliate links, so I will receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you buy through the links.

• MUDLARKS: Treasures from the Thames by Jason Sandy is a great book if you are new to mudlarking. It shows the findings of 80 different mudlarks, and contains lots of photographs and information about the history of London.
• Mudlark’d: Hidden Histories from the River Thames by Malcom Russell is another great book full of research, stories, and fascinating finds. It tells the stories behind historic objects that have been found, and the people that may have once owned them.

Other Posts Related to the River Thames

• Why is the River Thames Important to London?
• Why is the River Thames Brown?
• 3 Best Mudlarking Books for Beginners

This Post was a Guide to Mudlarking on the Thames

Thank you for reading my post on mudlarking on the Thames. Some items mudlarks have found on the river Thames include clay pipes, roof tiles, Roman coins, oyster shells, animal bones, pieces of coal, clay pipe stems, glass beads, a piece of Roman pottery, clay tobacco pipes, Venetian glass chevron beads, and every day objects like thimbles.

If you are a treasure hunter, and have found anything interesting on the Thames foreshore, please leave me a comment below and let me know!

Tuesday 14th of February 2023

Loved your latest blog, so interesting.

Mudlarking in London on the Thames

If you're lucky, you'll find remnants of life centuries ago

Gautier Houba / TripSavvy

London may not have a beach, but the River Thames runs right through the city, and since it's a tidal river, the river banks are uncovered every day.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, many poor people in London searched the riverbanks for trinkets that had been dropped into the water and cargo that had fallen off passing boats, and they would sell the treasures they found. Being a mudlark — someone who searched for these items — was a recognized occupation until the early 20th century. But mudlarking these days is more like beachcombing or treasure hunting for those interested in London's history.

Mudlarking Along the Thames

The Thames is now one of the cleanest metropolitan rivers in the world, but it used to be regarded as London's trash can. Thames mud is anaerobic (without oxygen) and preserves whatever it consumes, which makes the 95-mile foreshore (the part of the shore closest to the water) of the tidal Thames one of the richest archaeological sites in Britain.

Mudlarking is the urban equivalent of beachcombing (looking on the beach for "treasures" washed up by the sea). There are serious mudlarking enthusiasts who are registered and have all the necessary equipment, and then there are amateur archaeologists and the rest of us who are intrigued by London's past being displayed on the foreshore every day.

Mudlarking Rules

As of September 2016, a license is required to search for anything on the foreshore, even if you are just looking without an intent to touch or remove anything.

You can apply to the Port of London Authority  for a license, and the staff there can give clear guidance on what you will be allowed to do and where.

It is very important that any object found on the foreshore that could be of archaeological interest is reported to the Museum of London so that potentially everybody can benefit from the find. Through this scheme, the mudlarks have helped build an unparalleled record of everyday life on a medieval river.

If you intend to take home what you find, you will need to get  an export license . 

Likely Finds

This is an urban setting, so you are most likely to find everyday objects that people have thrown away like pottery, buttons, and tools. It is extremely unlikely you will find a bag of diamonds or a sack of gold.

The most common item to find is a clay pipe, which is usually broken and often sitting right on the surface. These were smoking pipes and were sold pre-filled with tobacco and although they could be re-used, they were generally thrown away, especially by the dock workers, which explains why there are so many in the river. While that sounds like the equivalent of a modern cigarette butt and not exciting, they date back to the 16th century. 

Remember to take plastic bags with you for your finds and do wash everything in clean water before letting others handle it.

The most important information you need for mudlarking safely is found on the daily tide tables . The Thames rises and falls by more than seven meters (about 23 feet) twice daily as the tide comes in and out, and the water is cold.

Check the exit points because the river rises very quickly and has an exceptionally strong current. The steps to the river can be slippery so climb with care.

Wash your hands or wear disposable gloves because the area is muddy. There is also a risk of contracting Weil's disease (spread by rat's urine in the water), and sewage in storm conditions is still discharged into the river. Infection is usually through cuts in the skin or through the eyes, mouth or nose. Medical advice should be sought immediately if ill effects are experienced after visiting the foreshore, particularly flu-like symptoms such as temperature and body aches. All in all, be careful not to touch your eyes or face before your hands are clean. An anti-bacterial wash can help before you give those hands a good scrub.

Wear sturdy footwear because it can be muddy and slippery in places. Be sensible and don't go mudlarking on your own.

Finally, note that if you venture onto the foreshore, you do so entirely at your own risk, and you must take personal responsibility for anyone you mudlark with. In addition to the tides and currents mentioned above, hazards include raw sewage, broken glass, hypodermic needles, and wash from vessels.

Where to Mudlark

You can try treasure hunting in some prime locations in central London. You can mudlark under the Millennium Bridge outside the  Tate Modern on the South Bank or move over to the North Bank near St. Paul's Cathedral . Outside Gabriel's Wharf can be a fun place to check the shore, and the areas around Southwark and Blackfriars bridges on the North Bank are also worth checking out. You could also have a look around Canary Wharf if you're visiting the Museum of London Docklands .

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Mudlarking Tour along the Thames

Come mudlarking with us on the foreshore in chiswick and find archaeological artefacts revealed by the river thames., dates and times, chiswick pier trust.

A chance to get onto the foreshore in Chiswick and find archaeological artefacts revealed by the River Thames. Who knows what will be discovered - smoking pipes, colourful pottery sherds, bones…? Meet outside the 'Mudlarking Exhibition' at Chiswick Pier Trust, on the North Bank of the Thames. We will walk along Chiswick Mall and explore the foreshore beside Chiswick Eyot.

Getting to us

Where to find us.

Chiswick Pier Trust, Corney Reach Way, London W4 2UG

Closest Pier: Putney Pier Calling at 23 piers throughout the day, the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers service is the perfect way to navigate the festival, in spacious comfort above ground. Find out more

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Without the support of funders, partners and people like yourself, we wouldn’t be able to deliver our diverse programme of projects and events along the Thames and across the world.

Other events to see...

Hands on history: mudlarking exhibition in emery walker's house.

Guided tours at Emery Walker's House conclude in our small exhibition space. Between March 2 and April 28, 2024 the exhibition on display will be Mudlarking:…

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